Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Study DesignA retrospective radiological study of the ligamentum flavum (LF).PurposeWe determined the relationship of dorsal spinal LF thickening with age and sex using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also determined whether LF thickening has a predominant tendency to occur at a specific dorsal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Spine Society
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Asian Spine Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-12-47.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811218657452228608 |
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| author | Amarnath Chelladurai Suhasini Balasubramaniam Sarenya Preyah Anbazhagan Sathyan Gnanasihamani Sukumar Ramaswami |
| author_facet | Amarnath Chelladurai Suhasini Balasubramaniam Sarenya Preyah Anbazhagan Sathyan Gnanasihamani Sukumar Ramaswami |
| author_sort | Amarnath Chelladurai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Study DesignA retrospective radiological study of the ligamentum flavum (LF).PurposeWe determined the relationship of dorsal spinal LF thickening with age and sex using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also determined whether LF thickening has a predominant tendency to occur at a specific dorsal level and on a specific side.Overview of LiteratureMany researchers have studied LF thickness at dorsal levels in patients with compressive myelopathy. However, there is a dearth of literature pertaining to the study of dorsal LF thickness in patients without myelopathy.MethodsLF thickness was measured at dorsal levels from T1 to T12 on both sides using MRI in 100 individuals. The patients were divided into three groups based on age: 20 to 40, 41 to 60, and >60 years. On axial T2-weighted imaging at the mid-disc level, LF thickness was measured perpendicular to the lamina border, either at half the length of LF or at maximum thickness, whichever was greater.ResultsWe found that LF thickness does not increase significantly with increasing age and there was no significant disparity in LF thickness between the sides and sexes. We also found that there was a significant increase in LF thickness at the T10–T11 level (mean value, 3.27±0.94 mm).ConclusionsLF thickness does not appear to have any side/sex dominance. LF thickening has a predominant tendency to occur specifically at the T10–T11 level. This may be due to maximum tensile strength and mobility at this level. Because there is an increased tendency for LF thickening at the T10–T11 level, this may be used as a reference point for counting the vertebral levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:13:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba41921494594257bf2b5d7b5451b463 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1976-1902 1976-7846 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T07:13:04Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Korean Spine Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Asian Spine Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba41921494594257bf2b5d7b5451b4632022-12-22T03:42:35ZengKorean Spine SocietyAsian Spine Journal1976-19021976-78462018-02-01121475110.4184/asj.2018.12.1.47365Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging StudyAmarnath Chelladurai0Suhasini Balasubramaniam1Sarenya Preyah Anbazhagan2Sathyan Gnanasihamani3Sukumar Ramaswami4Department of Radiodiagnosis, Stanley Medical College, Chennai, India.Department of Radiodiagnosis, Stanley Medical College, Chennai, India.Department of Radiodiagnosis, Stanley Medical College, Chennai, India.Department of Radiodiagnosis, Stanley Medical College, Chennai, India.Department of Radiodiagnosis, Stanley Medical College, Chennai, India.Study DesignA retrospective radiological study of the ligamentum flavum (LF).PurposeWe determined the relationship of dorsal spinal LF thickening with age and sex using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also determined whether LF thickening has a predominant tendency to occur at a specific dorsal level and on a specific side.Overview of LiteratureMany researchers have studied LF thickness at dorsal levels in patients with compressive myelopathy. However, there is a dearth of literature pertaining to the study of dorsal LF thickness in patients without myelopathy.MethodsLF thickness was measured at dorsal levels from T1 to T12 on both sides using MRI in 100 individuals. The patients were divided into three groups based on age: 20 to 40, 41 to 60, and >60 years. On axial T2-weighted imaging at the mid-disc level, LF thickness was measured perpendicular to the lamina border, either at half the length of LF or at maximum thickness, whichever was greater.ResultsWe found that LF thickness does not increase significantly with increasing age and there was no significant disparity in LF thickness between the sides and sexes. We also found that there was a significant increase in LF thickness at the T10–T11 level (mean value, 3.27±0.94 mm).ConclusionsLF thickness does not appear to have any side/sex dominance. LF thickening has a predominant tendency to occur specifically at the T10–T11 level. This may be due to maximum tensile strength and mobility at this level. Because there is an increased tendency for LF thickening at the T10–T11 level, this may be used as a reference point for counting the vertebral levels.http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-12-47.pdfLigamentum flavum thickeningT10–T11Dorsal levelsAge |
| spellingShingle | Amarnath Chelladurai Suhasini Balasubramaniam Sarenya Preyah Anbazhagan Sathyan Gnanasihamani Sukumar Ramaswami Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study Asian Spine Journal Ligamentum flavum thickening T10–T11 Dorsal levels Age |
| title | Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study |
| title_full | Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study |
| title_fullStr | Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study |
| title_short | Dorsal Spinal Ligamentum Flavum Thickening: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study |
| title_sort | dorsal spinal ligamentum flavum thickening a magnetic resonance imaging study |
| topic | Ligamentum flavum thickening T10–T11 Dorsal levels Age |
| url | http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-12-47.pdf |
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